Kukla's Korner Hockey

General Manager Don Maloney says Yandle continues to mature, pointing to role models such as Jovanovski, Michalek and Adrian Aucoin who can show him how to prepare. As his minutes piled up, Yandle’s confidence grew proportionately, Maloney said.

“Now, rather being viewed as a young, developing player, we view Keith as a player we count on the generate offense from our blue line while playing sound defense. He is a very important player for us.”

Yandle’s ice time was in the mid-teens before the injuries hit, and then it increased by five to 10 minutes a game. Tippett said Yandle grasped the opportunity and responsibility when it was presented to him.

“He’s continued to build on that,” Tippett said. “He’s a young player, still has some things to learn, but he has a real fearless energy for the game. What we try to get him to do is to play smart, use the skills that he has but don’t play reckless, and he’s done a good job of that.”